Italy confirms troops will stay in Lebanon after UNIFIL mandate ends
During a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Michel Menassa, Crosetto indicated that Italy plans to stay engaged through alternative international and bilateral frameworks once UNIFIL’s mission ends. “We will guarantee our presence in multilateral and bilateral contexts, including through participation in MCT4L (Military Technical Committee for Lebanon) and the MIBIL mission (Italian Bilateral Military Mission in Lebanon),” he said, according to official statements.
He added that, “We believe that multinational support remains the most effective solution in crisis areas.”
The Lebanese presidency later confirmed that Italy had expressed its intention to keep forces deployed in southern Lebanon following UNIFIL’s withdrawal. This position was discussed during a separate meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Crosetto.
President Aoun welcomed Italy’s willingness, along with that of other European states, to take part in any future mission that may succeed UNIFIL after its mandate expires on Dec. 31, 2026.
Emphasizing the importance of international backing, Aoun said, “We rely on friendly countries such as Italy to push toward the success of the negotiating process and reach positive outcomes.”
UNIFIL has been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978 and saw a major expansion following UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted after the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Italy remains one of the mission’s largest contributors, providing 1,099 troops out of a total force of 9,923 personnel tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and assisting the Lebanese army south of the Litani River.
The discussions take place against the backdrop of a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024, following more than a year of cross-border hostilities linked to the war in Gaza. That period of fighting left more than 4,000 people dead and over 17,000 wounded.
Under the terms of the truce, Israeli forces were expected to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January. However, reports indicate that the pullout has been only partial, with Israeli troops still positioned at five military outposts along the border.
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